PAL Ground Personnel May Strike
To Force Rehire of Laid-Off Workers

MANILA, Philippines -- A strike by ground personnel of Philippine Airlines could ruin a rehabilitation plan and force Asia's oldest airline to shut down, an airline official said.

PAL's 5,000-member ground personnel union has threatened to strike to force the airline to rehire thousands of employees it laid off to stanch losses worsened by a devastating strike by more than 600 pilots last month.